Jaguar and Waterfalls This once in a lifetime wildlife trip offers you an almost-guaranteed chance of seeing the most elusive big cat in the world, the jaguar, together with some of the world's least-known and most exotic wildlife in a vast wildlife reserve in the heart of the continent. The Pantanal is the Serengeti of South America, over 58,000 square miles overflowing with wild animals and birds yet still with just a few tourists. It's where the BBC and Discovery Channel go to film their documentaries. As well as jaguars you will see otters as big as a man, giant capybara, hundreds of caiman South American alligators (caiman), Brazilian ostriches (rhea) giant anteaters. You'll also be taking in Rio de Janeiro, Atlantic rainforest and the world-famous Iguaçu Falls. As this is a Tell Tale trip, as well as spending time with expert guides, you'll meet local people and you are guaranteed the inside track on Brazil. But this not just a Tell Tale trip, it's the ultimate Tell Tale trip. We may be nice people who do special experience holidays for nice people..but this trip is Tell Tale, Predator style. Please note this trip must be taken between April and November (the Pantanal is flooded at other times). The first stop of this private tour of Brazil is Rio de Janeiro. You'll be staying in a gorgeous 19th Century mansion house perched like an eyrie over Rio's beaches and mountains. You'll be whisked around Rio's natural attractions - the huge rainforest national park, replete with rare birds and dripping with waterfalls and the Morro de Urca and Sugar Loaf mountains where the world's tiniest monkeys still scurry through the trees. You'll also have time to visit Rio's famous beaches if you wish, otherwise you can relax in the gardens of the mansion. You'll visit a special wildlife sanctuary in the Atlantic coastal rainforest. It's one of the world's biodiversity hotspots. There are almost twice as many bird species found in the region than in the whole of Europe, many of them found only here. They are among the world's most beautiful. You will see toucans and brilliantly coloured tanagers, trogons with tails like a bird of paradise and darting emerald green hummingbirds. And with luck you might see the largest monkey in the Americas, the critically endangered Southern woolly spider monkey. Now it's time for the big cats. You'll fly from Rio to the Pantanal in the heart of Brazil. This vast area of seasonally flooded wetlands and open savannahs overflows with wildlife. You will divide your time between comfortable ranch houses, from where you take trips out into the wild on boat and a special tented jaguar camp in the jungle in the heart of the remote wild. From here you take night safaris in the Pantanal and day excursions along the rivers to see jaguars. Then it's onto Iguaçu Falls - one of the great natural wonders of our planet. The waterfalls here almost twice the width of the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and two and a half times the width, and the height of Niagara stretch. They sit in a huge rainforest national park replete with wildlife including capuchin monkeys, coatimundis and electric blue Morpho butterflies as big as a hand. You will visit both sides of the falls - in Brazil and Argentina and see them from the air on a one of the world's most unforgettable spectacular helicopter flights. As with all Tell Tale Travel trips, this is a soft adventure which means that you will get away from the tourist trail, but in more comfort than a typical adventure holiday, and meet our unique network of local people. We also ensure that our itineraries have a perfect balance, so you will return home refreshed, with plenty of tales to tell.Friday (or Sunday) Day 1: Fly overnight (approx. 9pm departure from Heathrow) on a direct flight with TAM airlines from London Heathrow to Rio de Janeiro international airport. It is also possible to fly with British Airways. Day 2: You'll be met at the airport in Rio de Janeiro and driven into central Rio in a chauffeur-driven car and into the hills of the city. You'll be staying in a gorgeous 19th century mansion house, the home of a famous Brazilian artist. You'll have the day free to settle into your lovely room and enjoy the tropical gardens, although your driver is availabe to drive you to Rio's famous beaches. In the evening, your hostess will be back from work and she will take you for a stroll through the bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa to have a welcome dinner at one of its fashionable restaurants. Day 3: Today one of our expert guides will take you around Rio's highlights including the rainforest in Tijuca national park, a tram ride to Corcovado to see the Christ statue and a walk round the Botanical Gardens to see hundreds of orchids, giant Amazonian water lilies and sloths and brown capuchin monkeys in the trees. This evening, your driver will take you into the city to have dinner at one of Rio's bustling restaurants, choose from the tips in your Tell Tale guest pack. Day 4: Today, you'll visit the Atlantic coastal rainforest reserve of Regua, with some of the best bird-watching in South America and the chance to see the largest monkey in the Americas - the southern woolly spider monkey and one of the smallest - the tiny tufted-eared marmoset which can fit in the palm of your hand. Day 5: Time to move on. You'll be driven to the airport for an internal flight to Cuiabá. You will be met and driven into the heart of the Pantanal. It is a long drive but you will see plenty of wildlife along the way, capybara crossing the road, metre long parrots flying overhead, eagles on every other fence post. Your base will be a fazenda (ranch house) surrounded by two private lates, it is rather rustic but it's a good first stop and has great wildlife-watching opportunities and gracious owners. Time to settle into your room. This evening, you will have a welcome dinner in the pavilion with the owners, with the sounds of the jungle as your backdrop. Day 6: Early this morning you will have walking safari and in the afternoon a jeep ride. This area is is famous for its lakes filled with crocodiles, its huge flocks of parakeets and its Marsh deer - which are unique in having webbed feet. You'll have a break and dinner. Then it's time for a a night safari, watch out for those eyes in the night..they may well be caiman. Day 7: Morning at leisure. Optional horse riding. Then time to pack up, you'll be driven further into the Pantanal and a jaguar camp. The tented cabins are nice but bear in mind they're still tents. It's worth it - there is nowhere in the Americas where you will see more wild animals and it has the highest density of jaguars in the world. A dedicated team of guides, boatmen and jaguar spotters will make sure you have the maximum chance of seeing them. You'll be able to observe wildlife from your 'deck' at the front of your tent, which does have adequate ensuite facilities as well as electricity (and a fan). Day 8: Full day boat trip and Jaguar safari in the Pantanal. Most of the time will be spent in the boat. You will picnic in the wild on the river bank and return at dusk to sleep in the jaguar camp. Day 9: Another full day boat trip to maximise the chances of seeing jaguar.Day 10: An optional morning boat trip or walk in the forest, then you'll head to your next stop, another fazenda. Settle into your comfortable room and enjoy the surrounding forest spend the afternoon by their swimming pool. Day 11: Today, you're visiting a Pantaneiro cowboy home, you'll also have a traditional lunch here. Panteneiro cowboys are descendants of Portuguese who mingled with Brazil's native Indians and live their lives in a 200-year tradition farming the special breed of Pantaneiro cattle which are unique to this area. You'll have a slow return back to the fazenda looking for giant anteaters and Rhea South American ostriches on your way. Day 12: Time to move on, you'll be driven to to Cuiabá for a flight to the airport at Iguaçu Falls. You'll be met at the airport and driven across the border to Argentina to a lodge in the middle of the Iguaçu rainforest, right near the waterfalls. It is very comfortable and has a swimming pool. Day 13: Your guide will take you around the majestic Iguaçu falls on the Argentinian side. Day 14: Your guide will take you to the Brazilian side of Iguaçu, followed by a helicopter flight over the waterfalls and rainforest. You'll also visit a fantastic aviary where you'll see the world's largest parrots, toucans and scores of other South American tropical birds, some of which are rare or nearly extinct. Day 15: Day at leisure. In the evening, you will take a short flight from the airport at Iguaçu Falls to Sao Paulo's international airport. Direct overnight flight back to the UK. Day 16: Arrive at London Heathrow at approximately 4pm (this will be a Saturday if you departed on a Friday night). Alternatively you can fly back to Rio on Day 15 and have an extra night and day in Rio before flying back (returning a day later). This ultimate wildlife adventure for two people sharing a private tour costs £4,800 per person. The tour price includes direct flights from the UK, flights within Brazil, all accommodation, activities/excursions with guides, time with local people, private transfers and most meals. We recommend overall spending money for the two weeks of about £300-400 per couple for a nice holiday (unless you're big drinkers or shoppers!). This trip can only be taken during April to November. Optional Supplements We expect most people to pay exactly the listed price. At least if they book sufficiently in advance (you can do so with a deposit). We are not like those operators who give 'guide prices' for their itineraries and you find some excursions aren't included or your costs are considerably more than you expected! Below are potential extra costs. We've tried to make it as simple as possible, but if you have any questions, please do telephone us. Extra night/day in Rio £125pp. Other extensions such as a few days by the beach will be variable. Taking this trip the same time as the UK school summer holidays (approx mid July to late August) - add £100pp to base tour price, based on TAM flights. Flying with British Airways economy class (instead of TAM, which is an excellent airline) - add £200pp to base price The difference in price is not the London/Rio flight but a change in the way we can buy/ticket the internal flights. Please note that British Airways flies from Heathrow at midday rather than overnight like TAM. However, it is possible to start your trip on a Saturday if flying BA (therefore flying back on a Sunday on the itinerary Flying with British Airways premium economy class - add £520pp (to BA economy flights price) If you would like to fly BA during the summer school holidays, then it will cost the additional amount/s for BA flights as above plus an additional £300 per person.
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